Colleton County landowners appeal Canadys gas plant decision to SC Supreme Court
- Landowners in Colleton County have appealed the approval of a 2,200-megawatt gas plant at the old Canadys coal plant to the S.C. Supreme Court, citing concerns over environmental impacts.
WALTERBORO — Landowners who oppose development of the planned 2,200-megawatt gas plant in Colleton County have appealed their case to the S.C. Supreme Court after the state Public Service Commission upheld its approval for the project.
John Burbage and Lauren V. Moody Stanfill, whose land holdings would be affected by the plant, allege the PSC failed to fully consider the environmental impacts of Canadys Station and its associated pipeline once it goes on line.
The $5 billion project is a joint effort between Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy.
After the PSC approved the plant in May 2026, Burbage, a former editor of The Post and Courier, and Stanfill filed a motion asking the commission to reconsider the decision, which was denied.
The denial set the stage for an appeal to the state Supreme Court.
Will Cook, a lawyer representing Burbage and Stanfill, contends the environmental report the PSC referenced to make its decision didn't include a clear analysis of the plant's cumulative environmental impact, just information on the "status quo" and the current conditions surrounding the site.
"There was no consideration of environmental impacts, I would say, other than a statement in the environmental report that said that it was unlikely that there would be any significant environmental effects," Cook said.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Santee Cooper acknowledged the appeal going to the state's high court, adding that utility's application had fully complied with requirements.
Dominion Energy did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.
A long road
In May 2026, the PSC gave the gas plant unanimous approval. The project, which sits in the northern reaches of the environmentally sensitive ACE Basin, has spurred local and national environmental groups to voice fierce opposition.
Once built, the 2,200-megawatt gas plant would generate enough power for more than a million homes, according to Santee Cooper.
It would sit on the site of the now-defunct Dominion coal plant in the unincorporated community of Canadys on the banks of the Edisto River.
The power plant would be served by a new gas pipeline, constructed by Texas-based Kinder Morgan, that has been the subject of much speculation and controversy. The company has started taking landowners in Hampton and Colleton counties to court over land survey access .
A natural gas pipeline servicing Canadys Station will cross the state line, and move through Hampton and Colleton County. Provided
For the plant and pipeline projects to move forward, all parties still need a number of environmental and regulatory permits, including water withdrawal and air quality permits.
Because the plant's associated pipeline crosses the Georgia and South Carolina state line, it would need to be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a process that is expected to begin this fall.
